Hacienda Brothers : Arizona Hotel

The late Chris Gaffney sparkles on his last recording with the Hacienda Brothers, Arizona Motel.

Gaffney, the co-founder and lead singer, died in April of this year, and will be deeply missed by the music community. His deep voice lends credence to the Hacienda Brothers’ under-the radar, addictive amalgam of country, blues and soul, and his playing contributes warmth and feeling throughout Arizona Motel. Just one listen to "Ordinary Fool" is enough to grasp the gift that Gaffney shared with his gorgeous vocal abilities. The song, an ode to not being taken for granted, seems fitting to be placed on the Hacienda’s posthumous disc. Mixing in a light touch of zydeco with old style rock and blues, "Light It Again Charlie" gives just a peek of the prodigious talents the Hacienda Brothers displayed on the live stage night after night.

Co-produced by the band and Dan Penn, Arizona Motelis a roots-bound Hacienda Brothers classic, courtesy of the mature compositions by the late Gaffney, guitarist Dave Gonzalez and manager Jeb Schoonover.